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Obama’s French Connection

ONLY RECENTLY LEAVING OFFICE AND BARACK OBAMA is again in the news, this time because of his influencing the French presidential election. While his presence as president started waining his influence here in the states and Democratic elections were actually hurt in some areas by his campaigning for the candidate, apparently in France they still love him, even petitioning to alter their Constitution to allow him to run in their elections. A feat no other foreigner has been offered. For now, however, the French people will have to settle for the Obama pick Macron.

According to the Hill, Obama’s glowing endorsement for Macron went something like this:

“I know that you face many challenges, and I want all of my friends in France to know how much I am rooting for your success…. Because of how important this election is, I also want you to know I am supporting Emmanuel Macron to lead you forward. EnMarch! Vive la France!”

It’s interesting to see how progressives compartmentalize their desires, the call for Hillary Clinton was to have “elected the first woman president,” at times saying it doesn’t matter who it is. Obama himself, for some voters at least, won because of the “making history by electing the first black president.” But when he has the chance to endorse a woman president for France, he passes, now it looks to matter. Is Obama putting his political beliefs above the progressive identity politics goal, and do these contradict each? Hard to say. At times you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t, and this could be one of those times for the former president. Is putting the progressive identity politics to the side of the road and embracing a steward of complete progressivism, make him more devoted to their greatest goal or is this a misstep? Is this to be commended or not, he appears to be taking the high road, but why?

Zack Beauchamp–of Vox.com–had this to say on the matter:

“The endorsement is highly, highly unusual … but it makes a lot of sense.

…Indeed, Obama is popular in France–84 percent of French voters said they had confidence in him … in a 2016 Pew poll.

This kind of intervention by a US president in a foreign election would be almost inconceivable if it weren’t for Le Pen (Macron’s immediate challenger), who is explicitly opposed to everything that Western leaders like Obama traditionally claim to stand for–integration, tolerance, and international law.”

Le Pen was running on abandoning the EU and her National Front movement was allegedly funded by Russia, two claims that only further energized her critics, fueling more comparisons of Le Pen being a “female Donald Trump.”

What makes Macron so special to Obama? Well “he has stood up for liberal values” and “put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world,” Obama added.

At first glance, Macron seems an odd choice for Obama–considering Macron’s pro-business legislation during his earlier political role, as Minister of Economy, industry, and Digital Affairs–but dig a little deeper it makes more sense. The former investment banker and civil servant, was a member of the socialist party from 2006-2009. He has been labeled a centrist, a liberal, and a populist, depending on who you talk to. Macron himself seems fine with such claims and says he is “neither right nor left” and instead advocates for “a collective solidarity.” He presents himself as a “liberal … if by liberalism one means trust in man.” At least that’s the case in his book Revolution. When entering the campaign under his progressive party EnMarch!–meaning In Motion–during his speech he called for a “Democratic Revolution” and pledged to “unblock France.” I didn’t even know France had been “blocked” it certainly wasn’t by Obama.

Another point to consider: How in touch with the American public is Barack Obama? In order to have a successful endorsement he had to do so in a foreign election. When he campaigned for US politicians a lot of them lost–he ended up being the “touch of death” for his party instead of the golden touch. Honesty if France wants him so badly, they can have him and please don’t send a postcard.

R.C. Seely is the founder of americanuslibertae and ALTV. He has also written books about pop culture, the most recent Victims of White Male: How Victim Culture Victimizes Society is available on Amazon.